This is a real surprise and a most assured film from the Thai director, Pen-Ek Ratanaruang. Essentially a quite, thoughtful and insightful film with little storyline but half a dozen characters that totally fascinate. A husband and wife check into a Bangkok hotel in the early hours and in that never-never land of jet lag and an unfamiliar room a strange state develops. In reality, that is as well as in this movie. In fact we are not far into this little tale before we realize it is not easy to tell what is reality, fantasy or dream. Sometimes this can be irritating but here it is irrelevant. We are so drawn into this tale that even little details such as whether it is 'real' seem not to matter. I have not experienced anything quite like this since 'Celine and Julie Go Boating' and that was many years ago. Beautifully shot we find ourselves at one moment gazing at an entwined couple and at the next the sunlight dancing on the floor below a set of hotel room curtains. With plenty of space between 'action' there is time for us to reflect as the characters do and this magical and inspiring film is a most rewarding experience.
Review of Ploy
